SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Trainer Wilson Brown is a picture of concentration in the mornings as he leads each set to the gap at Canterbury Park. But the steely gaze that lies under his trademark Stetson gives way to a beguiling smile and affable conversation when Brown is asked about his career as a trainer.

A 59-year old native of Jones, Okla., Brown started training rodeo and ranch stock after a stint in the Army, but it wasn't long before Brown was introduced to match racing at a track called Apache Downs.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Spin Zone and Carey's Gold lead a group of stakes winners on the main track looking to parlay that success to the turf course in Sunday's undercard feature, the $50,000 Crank It Up Stakes at five furlongs for 3-year-olds.

LINCOLN, Neb. - Doug's Shadow will defend his title in Sunday's $10,000 President's Cup Handicap against a compact but competitive field of five others.

SALEM, N.H. - Despite another difficult winter fighting unsuccessfully with the New Hampshire legislature, Rockingham Park is ready to put its best foot forward Sunday as racing in New England shifts to its summer playground.

The 100-program meet opens as horsemen and fans worry that this might be the final season of racing at the 96-year-old facility.

MIAMI, Fla. - On the surface, Running Debate's two-length victory over Forest Native in Friday's feature race might not look impressive, especially considering the undefeated juvenile went off as the prohibitive 1-2 favorite in the entry-level allowance dash.

But those who have been following the races closely here the past week, where the rail has been deep and tiring, and watched Running Debate's performance know better. That group includes her trainer, Eddie Plesa Jr.

When Charismatic tried to win the Triple Crown in the 1999 Belmont Stakes, he had a serious rival in Menifee, who arguably should have won that year's Kentucky Derby. When Real Quiet went for the Triple Crown in 1998, he had Victory Gallop, who some people thought should have won that year's Derby. When Silver Charm went for the Triple Crown in 1997, he had Touch Gold, who many thought ran a winning Preakness.

When Perfect Drift enters the gate for the Belmont he will have had just one race in 11 weeks. It's a sign of the times: Many stables have adopted a fresher-is-better mentality. Belmont starters who ran big races after running in the Derby and skipping the Preakness include winner Commendable (2000) and runners-up Thirty Six Red (1990) and Kissin Kris (1993).

War Emblem proved in the Kentucky Derby that he can go at least 1 1/4 miles if he is allowed to relax on an uncontested lead. If he is given the luxury of that same pace scenario again, he will win the Belmont at low odds.

Does the best horse win every race? Of course not. The best horse often is compromised by flawed form, unsuitable distance, or an implied pace deficiency. A single blemish is one too many, but when a low-odds favorite conceivably is burdened by multiple factors, as War Emblem may be, the time is right to shop for a price.

ELMONT, N.Y. - An extremely eventful running of the $105,100 Meadowbrook, steeplechase race at Belmont Park on Thursday, yielded a 50-1 winner, Sharp Face.

Ten horses started in the Grade 1 Meadowbrook, but only five crossed the finish line. Storm Touch, Equistar, and Mcdynamo fell at fences. Yonder was pulled up and didn't complete the 2 1/2-mile jump race, which featured 12 jumps. Dixie's Crown left the course. None of the riders or horses were seriously injured.